Hi. It's raining again this morning and the dog started crying again. How long do you action things? When the dog is dead already?

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PAWS REPLY 1 & 2 (2 individual replies were sent out to concerned citizen after her intial report was received)

Date: November 21, 2013 at 9:01:28 PM GMT+8Subject:Replied to M re: neighbor's neglected dog and puppy; how long do you take action, when the dog is dead already?

Hi M,

What concerned citizens who report neglected or abused animals to us don't often realize is that they themselves are in fact in better position to help as they are the closest line of assistance to the animal in need of help. This is because the concerned citizen who reports the abuse or neglect to PAWS is already in the area or frequents the area or has better access to the animal in need. People often think that when reports like these are sent to us, they perhaps have this notion that PAWS is like the animal cops they see on TV or heavily funded humane societies in other countries - that we operate 24/7, can immediately deploy, get on our rescue vehicles and then swoop in to rescue the distressed animals. The truth is that we are a severely undermanned volunteer-based non-government organization, with a rickety van we use to do rescues and all other logistical errands for the shelter which is already at maximum capacity with 300+ animals in its care. Our volunteers also have work, school and other responsibilities just like you. We would want for nothing more than to be able to help every distressed animal in need but this is simply unrealistic. To clarify misconceptions which you have about PAWS, kindly read this link: http://pawsphilippines.weebly.com/common-public-misconceptions-about-paws.html

This is why we hope that concerned citizens with a heart for animals would do more than just report to us these incidences but instead, take pro-active action as well. We hope then that we could count on you to do any of the following:

1. As this animal is an owned pet and is within the premises of the pet owner's home, you might try and initiate a friendly conversation with the pet owner and casually segue to the subject of the animal which you think is being neglected. You can pretend and note lightly the dog may need some shelter or better roofing to protect it against the rain and heat of the sun and support this with an offer to help - bring over some roofing material, maybe an old tarpaulin. You can even offer "extra food" to share because it's your own dog's birthday or something to that effect. If the dog seems to be sick, you can suggest your own vet clinic or offer to accompany them to a vet for check-up. You may even mention lightly that it's best to avoid trouble legally as you have heard that neglecting to provide proper care, shelter and vet care is punishable by law (RA 8485 Animal Welfare Act). The 'killing with kindness' as mediation and education tactic has been effective for those we have counselled who were initially reluctant but at least tried the approach. It is harder to get mad at someone who strikes a friendly, neighborly conversation, smiles and offers help- even if in truth, the owner finds you annoying. The awkwardness, embarrassment or just plainly wanting to avoid your attention, for the most part, based on our experience, is sufficient to prompt an owner to take the necessary steps to improve care and living conditions.

2. The 2nd course of action possible is to bring in a third-party to mediate such as the barangay officials. They are government employees paid for by citizens' taxes to implement and check on violations of the law, including RA8485 or the Animal Welfare Act. They are normally in authority to explain and counsel this pet owner on his responsibilities under our laws. You may also ask PAWS to be the one to do the mediation. However, for PAWS to be able to do this, we would require that you submit to us first an affidavit detailing the neglect you personally witnessed. This is because when PAWS does the mediation, we do so with a warning to the erstwhile neglectful owner that should the conditions of the animal not improve, we would have no choice but to file formal charges against him in court. We would not be able to file a case without your affidavit so this is a requirement before the mediation. Note that your identity as informant will not be disclosed to the neglectful owner unless the matter continues to be unresolved and PAWS is compelled to file the case. This will also be at no expense to you, only your effort and time spent at drafting your affidavit and then coordinating with us once we are able to arrange for volunteers to do the mediation. A sample affidavit can be downloaded from FAQ section - What to do when encountering pet neglect.

3. You could also go right ahead and independently file a complaint against the neglectful owner. You simply need to draft the affidavit, bring it to your local Prosecutor's Office and then the case can be filed. You may also use the sample format on the link I gave above.

Since you feel very strongly about this and want immediate action -- Options 1 and 3 would be quicker since it only needs to be done by you and you need not wait on PAWS to scramble for available volunteers and arrange the mediation. The animal in distress, therefore, can be assisted much more swiftly. This is why we say the concerned citizen already in the area where the animal is is the closest line of help for the animal. Because at their level, the response can be quicker.

Not many are aware that the Animal Welfare Division of the government under Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) is tasked to address animal welfare concerns, to implement RA8485 The Animal Welfare Act and RA9482 The Anti Rabies Act and to disseminate the information to the LGUs, but the public mainly relies more on underfunded undermanned non-gov't organizations like PAWS for help. If you still prefer PAWS to be the mediator, then again, I refer you to the required affidavit already explained in option 2.

We hope you also take the time to read the same FAQ on pet neglect for a better understanding of our guidelines. The FAQS were put up in the website http://www.paws.org.ph and http://pawsphilippines.weebly.com so that concerned citizens can take action on their own without waiting for a response from an NGO.

Also, just to inform you that as a NGO, PAWS does not have pet confiscation powers. We would need your affidavit and coordination with the police in order to do confiscate a pet from a neglectful owner. And because the shelter is currently at maximum capacity and we can no longer admit animals, we would need you to foster or find a fosterer for the dogs should they be confiscated from their owner.

We have laid out your options on the matter. Please let us know what you decide to do. Your next response with a complete report and affidavit will dictate the speed and course of action we take. Most often, the delay in rescue is because the concerned citizen does not submit complete details and affidavit in the initial report or as soon as this is requested of them.Kindly click the REPLY TO ALL button when replying to this email so that available staff/volunteers can respond if I am no longer online.

A Friendly Reminder from PAWS Contact Form page: Before you email or call us, please check the FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) page on this website or www.pawsphilippines.weebly.com for answers to your queries. You'll save time and you'll get the answer with less effort and without the wait. Contact Us Your queries may have already been answered in our Frequently Asked Questions page. Please check before sending us an email. Hi Mylene? Danica? (kindly indicate your full name when contacting PAWS so we can properly address you),

M could have emailed back or called the PARC Office as soon as she received the PAWS Reply for clarifications if she did not understand the guidelines provided to her - both of which were provided to her in English and Filipino.

Responses from PAWS may be lengthy due to the fact that we wish to provide ALL INFO/GUIDELINES from the start of the report so that we do not send multiple emails back and forth, which causes delay in helping the animal in need. PAWS also needs to address other reports coming in.